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Home > The Alliance in the News > 2007 Alliance News Items > Animal rescuer or scammer? You should be the judge

Animal rescuer or scammer? You should be the judge

by Denise Flaim, Newsday

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Independent animal rescuers do a wonderful service, saving unwanted dogs and cats from kill shelters or homes where they are no longer wanted.

But how can you tell if a rescuer is a saint — or a scammer?

Make a visit. "So much animal adoption is now done online that it's easy to put adorable photos up, but you really are not going to know what conditions the animal is housed in," said Sara Davison, executive director of the Animal Fund of the Hamptons in Wainscott.

Many breed-specific rescue groups, as well as smaller ones, do not have formal facilities, and instead rely on private foster homes, "which is a great model and works well," Davison said. Still, the number of animals in the home should not be overwhelming, and they should appear to be well fed and clean.

Check affiliations. "Find out what veterinarian the group uses, and get a reference," said Florence Harff, vice president of Herding Dog Rescue in Yaphank. "If it is a breed rescue, find out if they are recognized by the breed's parent club." If it's an independent group, see if it is involved in an umbrella organization, such as the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals.

Also, call the local municipal shelter, Harff suggested. "They usually know who the legitimate rescue groups are."

Expect to be grilled. Rescue groups are notoriously choosy about making sure potential adopters are appropriate. "When they adopt a dog out, do they have an adoption agreement?" Harff said. "Do they check the references of adopters, and do they do a home visit?"

Don't be put off by adoption fees. With private rescue groups, especially those devoted to purebreds, adoption donations of $200 to $400 are common.

Given the high cost of vet care — which includes exams, spaying and neutering, vaccinations and microchipping —"we are lucky if we break even," said Harff, whose group just took in a collie with severe Lyme disease — a condition that will take many months, and many dollars, to cure.

Also, there is a philosophical reason for charging a fee, Davison added: It underscores that the animals are not worthless — which is often the attitude that renders them homeless in the first place.